Apparatus for depositing strips of adhesive upon a base material



T. O. BRETHERTON APPARATUS FOR 'DEPOSITING STRIPS OF ADHESIVE UPON ABASE MATERIAL Nov. 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 29, 1948 1951 T.o. BRETHERTON 2,573,952

APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING STRIPS OF ADHESIVE UPON A BASE MATERIAL FiledJuly 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 "r. o. BRETHERTON 2,573,952 APPARATUS FORDEPOSITING STRIPS OF ADHESIVE Nov. 6, 1951 UPON A BASE MATERIAL 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 29, 1948 &

Nov. 6, 1951 T. o. BRETHERTON 2,573,952

APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING STRIPS OF ADHESIVE UPON A BASF! MATERIAL FiledJuly 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 6, 1951 APPARATUS FORDEPOSITING STRIPS OF ADHESIVE UPON A BASE MATERIAL Thomas obBrethe rton,Villanova, Pa.

Application July 29, 1948, Serial No. 41,286

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus fordepositingone or more strips of adhesive upon :a base material, and isparticularly concernedwith apparatus that is especially adapted forusein connection with the manufacture of pile fibre surfaced slide channelsections for-the glass panes of automobile doors and windows.

As is wellknown,'the channels and strips associated with the glass panesof automobile windows and doors usually are lined-or surfaced with feltor the like which serves principally to prevent rattling of theglass'in.theframe and at the same time provides acushion between the glass panesand the supporting structure of the doors and windows so that breakingof the glass in ordinary usage .of 'the'vehicle is substantiallyeliminated.

The manufacture of these channel and strip sections presents aprobleminzthe automobile industry principally because of the materialsand labor cost involved in producing an item which when finishedconstitutes only a very small part of a complete automobile; Forexample, one method of producing these channels which is usedextensively in the automotive. industry consists in securingby means ofstitching or adhesive three relatively narrow strips of felt in closelyspaced parallel relation upon asuitable backing fabric such as lightcanvas or sized cotton and this fabric material with the felt stripssecured thereon is then adhesively secured upon the surface of a-flatstrip of metal. This metal strip with the felt carrying backing fabric'secured thereto is then formed into a generally U-shaped channelwithtthe fabric covered surface of the strip residing interiorly of thechan: nel so that the three felt strips thereon overlie the innersurfaces of the bottom and opposite side wall portions of the channel.

It will be noted that thedescribed method of producing these channelsections involves a-number of separateand distinct steps which, inad-.dition :to the cost "of extra materials, consumes considerable time and:zlabor which makes the cost of manufacturing-these channels andlstripssubstantially out of proportion for such a'small part of-a completeautomobile With the foregoing in mind, the principal obiect of thepresent invention is to provide a novel apparatus for depositing ne r mr strips of adhesive u on-a continuoussmoving base-ma e rial in thev-mamlfacimre of :pile --fibre surfaced .articles as set. forth.

This; and: other -obiectszoi the invention and 4 Claims. (01. 91-1-12)the variousfeatures and details of the construction and operationthereof are hereinafter'full-y set forth and .described with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one form ofapparatus suitable forthe manufacture of articlesaccording'to the present invention;

Fig. 'ZiS an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentarylongitudinal sectional view of-the apparatusshown in Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of .a portion ofthe apparatusappearing in Fig. '3 and more particularly as viewed-on the line'4 4,Fig. 6;

Fig.5 is a detached view in perspective of one of themembersof'theadhesive feed mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line .6 .6, Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a partial transverse sectionas viewed .on the line 1-1, Fig.8;

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan as viewed on theline 8+8," Fig. 6;

'Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the section of a length of the basestrip material with three strips of-the adhesive deposited thereon.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the same stripafter thefibres have been deposited thereon in substantiallyperpendicularrelation;

*Fig. 11 is an enlarged view in perspective of a length 'of one of thestrips after being severed longitudinally of the length .of the materialshown in Fig.10; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing the strip of Fig. 11 after it"hasbeen formed into channel section for use in guiding and supporting theglass panes of automobile windows and doors.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the-present inventioncontemplates passing a striprof material such as metal, fabric, or thelike, continuously through a novel adhesive applying device whichoperates to apply upon the surface of the moving strip one or morecontinuous bands of adhesive predetermined Width preparatory to passingthe strip of material with the bandor bands of adhesive thereon throughapparatus which is constructed and operable 190 deposit; onto'thecontinuously moving strip relatively short textile fibres of wool or thelike while imul aneously v bratin said strip to cause the fibres oadhere t the adhe ive b n ed areas of the stripx ln generallyperpendicular relation to the siirfaceqof the latter, The stripwiththepile fib e; s ime dhesivelv secured thereto is then a sed thr ugh.a .c amber maintained :at an elevated temperature to dry, cure orvulcanize the adhesive as the case may require.

One form of apparatus for producing strip material as described is shownin the accompanying drawings. The apparatus illustrated is constructedupon a framework comprising four upright members or standards I to whichare secured a pair of transversely extending horizontally disposedchannel members 2 that in turn support a pair of relatively spacedparallel longitudinally extending channel members Mounted on the extremeoutboard ends of thelongitudinal channels 3 are drag and draw devices IOand II, respectively, for moving a length of base material M through themachine under proper conditions of tension.

tapped holes provided in suitable bosses 31 provided on the outer faceof the bridge member 33, for example, as shown in Fig. 8 of thedrawings.

Expansion springs 38 are positioned interme- The draw device ll, shown'at the irighthandzi" side of Fig- 1 of the drawings, comprises a pair ofrelatively opposed rolls I2 and l3 between which the length of basematerial is adapted to pass. The bottom roll I3 is driven at apredetermined rate of speed from a suitable motor 14 through a beltdrive l5 andthe upper roller 12 is biased by spring I6 toward the drivenlower roll I 3. 1

On the other hand the drag device l0, shown at the extreme left of Fig.1; comprises a lower idler roll I! and an upper roll I8 between whichthe strip of base material M passes, and the upper roll 18 is biased bya spring [9 toward the lower roll [1 and into contact with the strip ofmaterial. The pressure of the spring [9 acting on the roll 18 may beregulated by the adjustment ofascrew 20 to'cause the rolls I! and It togrip the strip of base material passing therebetweenwith the desiredforce with respect to the pull exerted by the draw device ll so thatportion of the length of the base material M lying between these dragand draw devices H] and II will be under a predetermined degree oftension.

After passing through the drag device Hi, the

strip of base material M passes through an adhesive applying devicewhich is generally designated by the numeral '2! and constructed as moreparticularly shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, of the drawings. As thereshown, the adhesive applying device comprises one or more adhesivetroughs or receptacles 23, depending upon the number 'of strips or bandof adhesive to be applied to the surface of the strip M and, in similarmanner, the width of the particular receptacles 23 will be determined bythe width of the band or bands of adhesive material to be'depositedthereby onto the surface of said strip. The adhesive receptacles 23constructed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings include relativelyspaced parallel side wall portions 24 and a declining, concaveintermediate wall portion 25 which has its" lower terminal edge 26spaced'inwardly with respect to the front face edges of the receptacleside wall portions 24. (See Fig. 5.) During passage of the strip of basestrip M through the adhesive applying device 2| the strip rests upon aplate or platen '21 which is secured to'the upper surface of anunderlying transverse channel member 28 that is secured, for example, bybolts 29 to the underside of a bridge member 30; The bridge member 30 isof generall inverted fiat U shape and is secured by bolts or the like 3|to the longitudinally extending channels 3 of the main frame, forexample, in the relation shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Provided at the upper rearward edge portion of the adhesive receptacle23 is an outwardly directed flange portion 32 which i undercut to diatethe enlarged head portion of each screw 36 and the adjacent face of thebracket 35 thereby continuouslysurging the latter and the adhesivereceptacles 23 supported thereby in an inward direction or to the rightwith respect to Fig. 4 so that the front or inner edges of thereceptacle side walls 24 normallyare maintained in firm abuttingrelation against the outer face of a doctor blade 39 which is carried bythe bridge member 30 cross-wise of the moving base strip M.

The doctor blade 33 .cooperates with the receptacle side walls 24 andtheinner terminal edge 23 of its concave wall 25.to define an opening forthe passage of adhesive from the receptacle 23 on to the upper surfaceof the continuously moving base strip M. In order to control andregulate the thickness of the band ,or bands of adhesive deposited ontothe base strip M from the receptacles 23,: the doctor blade 33 isvertically adjustable. As shown in'Fig. '7 this is accomplished-in. thepresent/instance by providing in the bridge. member 30 an adjustin screw46 having axially spaced reversely threaded portions 4| and 42 whichoperate, upon turning of said screw by the knob 43, to effect axialdisplacement of nut members 44 and 45 respectively, thereon, anddisplacement of these, nut members works through the mediumof associatedbell crank levers 46 and 41 to effectvertical positioning of the doctorblade'39 in'micrometer'adjustments with comparative accuracy. 7

The adhesive material may be supplied to the receptacle 23 andmaintained at a constant lever therein by conducting theadhesivematerial from a suitable source of supply 48 through a hose or othersuitable connection '49'to a manifold 50 from which separate connections5! lead through valves 52 and pipes 53 to the individual receptacles 23,for example, as clearly shownin Figs. 4 and 6 of'the drawings. The,valves 52 may be adjustably supported above the bridge member 30 bymeans of a bracket 54 secured thereto and having a slot 55 thereinwhereby the valves may be transversely positioned within the limits ofthe slot with respect to the base strip M. It will be understood ofcourse that the number of receptacles 23 provided in any given case, aswell as the respective widths thereof, will be governed entirely by thenumber of bands of adhesives it is desired to place upon the surface ofthe base strip and the width of such bands.

The particular adhesive 'material employed preferably is a syntheticrubber adhesive which is water-proof and resistant to cleaning and othersolvents. A numberof good adhesives having these properties areavailable on the market. The thickness of the band of the adhesivedeposited upon the upper surface of the basematerial will vary widelydepending upon both the type and length of fibres employed as well asupon the viscosity and-solidscontent ofthe adhesivel composition :and=1in reach 1 case may best be: determined by trial: and error with,respect toztheseifaetors.

.The strip material emerging from passage through-etheeadhesive device.illustrated in the drawings: will i have;.deposited thereon, threecontinuous bands of the zad-hmive arranged-in spaced parallel relation:extending longitudinally :of 'the base-strip for example, .as shown-inFig. '9 of the'drawings Y 4 --:The' strip M with the adhesivebandsthereon next passes through an elongated"chamberkfifl the 'rcourse40f travel 1 through which. uniform relatively .shortlength fibres such:as, forexample, r-wool or other. material are "deposited bygravitytonto'l the adhesive :bandedstrip while the flatter; which is"maintained under tension ,provided by the drag and draw devices HI andl l,'-respectively, is vibrated. In the present instance vibration .ofthe continuously moving :base strip is accomplished :by: causing thestrip'to pass over axplurality of transversely .rarranged polygonalshafts 6] :of polygonal Across-section shape .as shown'in Fig. 4. Theopposite ends 10f these shafts are rotationally supported in suitable-journal boxesiiZ and :63, respectively, mounted exteriorly of thechamber '60. :The shafts: G l are driven'irom a .motorifil through a;belt;drive 65 tonne of :said shafts 6! and. from the latter theothersshafts are driven :by connecting belts 66,66 through pulleys 61fixed. on each. ofthe shafts. Itisttoibenoted that the rotational axesof the vibrator shafts 6.! do not valllie in the same hori- 'zon-talplane. and that. the rotational axes of the second rand fourth shaftsare spaced respectively slightly:.above:and below the plane of therotational axes of the firstsand third :of said shafts thereby causingeachshaft Bl to be-eifective individua'lly to vibrate'the base-strip-M.The chamber fillsis mounted in the rectangular area defined by the touruprights or standardsof..-th'e..apparatus framework, and overlying-thechamber 6021s a hopper 68 which extends the full length of the chamber60 and has relatively vertical .upperside wall portions 9 whichterminate toward the bottom of the hopper in inwardly curving wallportions '16 which provide, in conjunction with a transversely:arcuatexscreen' H in the opening to the chamber "60 a rounded bottom tothe hopper. The opening from the hopper to the underlying chamber 60extends substantially the full length and width of the latter and thescreen H, which-is of predetermined size mesh, bridges the openingbetween the-hopper and the chamber 60 and is "curved to the same radiusas the lower side wall portions 10of the hopper 58 asshown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings.

Rotatably mounted within the hopper about horizontal axis-extendinglongitudinally thereof is a generally cylindrical agitator comprising-acentral shaftlQ having a plurality of spiders 73 secured thereon andprovided with circular rim portions '14 to which are secured supportstrips 75 that extend longitudinally of the agitator and are providedwith -a-slight spiral rake, for example, as shown in Fig. 1- of the"drawings. 'Secured to each of these support strips is a backing strip16 having metal pins or relative stiff nylon bristles H projectingradially therefrom in the relation shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.Similarly provided in the curved bottom portions ill of the hopper 68along opposite sides of the opening therein to the chamber 60 arestationary backing members 18 of relatively greater width than thestrips 15 and having proiecting therefromradially'withrespect'tozthecentereof the agitator, pins "or .rel'atively'stiff bristles 19. Theconstruction and arrangement of the agitator andstationary pins is suchthat the tips of .Jtheagitator pins have relatively close clearance withthesta'tionary pins but do not actually top them. I

- 'One 40f the difficulties encountered in the handling .of shorttextil'erfibres of lengths say from about z inch to about.% inch is thetendency for. these fibres to wad and collect into rolls and balls whichbuild up to substantial size and eventuallynclog the machine, and byprovi'ding the agitator described with its pins or bristles arranged tojust clear the stationary pins or bristles l9,;it has been found thatany accumulations of :fibres tending to form rolls or balls'aresubjected immediately to'what might be termed alight carding actingwhich effectively eliminates any tendency of the short fibres to forminto objectionable rolls or balls.

The fibres are admitted to the hopper '68 through an opening in the topthereof and are dischargedonto a baffle which tapers endwise of thehopper from its mid-point and has laterally sloping sides whichcooperate with the endwise taper thereof to insure a substantiallyuniform. distribution of the fibres longitudinally of the hopper.The'fibres discharge from the hopper 68 through its bottom opening andthe screen H onto the adhesive-banded strip of base material M. Thefibres which aredeposited onto the adhesive banded "areas of thebasestrip M adhere to the latter and due to the vibration imparted tothetensioned base strip M by the polygonal shafts 6|, the fibresdeposited onto the adhesive band or bands of the strip have one endembedded in the adhesive and extend substantially perpendicular to theplane of the base strip surfac thus forming thereon a unique pile fibresurface simulative of the effect provided by certain pile fabrics suchas carpets and the like.

The fibres'deposited onto the base strip M which do not become embeddedin the bands of adhesive are dischargedfrom opposite sides of the stripby the vibrations imparted thereto and drop into a downwardly taperingbin portion 8! provided in the lower part of the chamber 60. The fibresdischarged into the bin 8! are withdrawn therefrom and through a duct 82by a fan or blower 83 which inturn discharges the fibres throughanotherduct 8 and returns them to the hopper fill. In the illustratedembodiment of the invention the fan or blower 83 is driven by the motor54.

After the fibres have been deposited onto the adhesive banded areas ofthe base strip M as described, the latter emerges from the chamber 66,passes through the draw device I l previously described, and then ispassed through a drying'or curing chamber (not shown) of any suitabletype which is maintained at the desired temperature to=effect drying,curingor vulcanization of the adhesive material as may be required tosheet a permanent bond of the fibres to the base strip M and with theillustrated form of apparatus to provide a pile fibre banded strip ofthe construction shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings. Whether or not theadhesive material should be merely dried or cured or, for example,vulcanized, will depend to a large extent upon the type of adhesivematerial employed and also upon the particular use which is to be madeof the pile fibre surfaced strip product. Thus in the case of guidechannels and strips for the glass panes of automobile windows and doorswhere their use is ac companied by substantial wear and exposure tosubstantially the entire range of weather c'onditions and cleaningsolvents, an exceedingly tough and durable bonding of the fibres to thebase strip is essential and therefore an adhesive of the syntheticrubber type preferably is employed and properly cured or vulcanized bysubjecting. the pile fibre surfaced strip to the required heat treatmentfor a predetermined period of time.

The multiple-banded strip shown in Fig. 10 is split or cutlongitudinally thereof along the broken lines a, to produce threeribbons M of the construction shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings. Thesesingle ribbons M may be used flat or may be run through a suitablemachine to form them into lengths of channel cross-section shape withthe pile fibre surface thereon disposed interiorly of the channel asshown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. If desired, the free edge portions ofthe channel sections being turned outwardly and providing beads alongthe opposite side edges thereof substantially as shown:

By way of illustration, a good product may be produced by advancing thebase strip 'M through the apparatus at a linear speed of about 10 to 12feet per minute while rotating the vibrator shafts BI at a speed of fromabout 500 to 1000 R. P. M. and the agitator in the hopper 68 rotating ata speed of from about to 50 R. P. M., the thickness of the adhesivebands deposited upon the strip M and the duration and temperature rangefor drying, curing or vulcanizing the adhesive being determined, aspreviously set forth, with reference to the type and composition ofadhe-' sive employed, the type of fibres used and the character of thebond required according to the particular use which is to be made of theproduot.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit theinvention to such disclosure, and changes and modifications may be madein and to the apparatus within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for producing pile fibre sur-' faced strips of material,a device for applying parallel bands of adhesive material upon 'acontinuously moving strip of the material, comprising a fixed supportstructure, a doctor blade carried by said structure transverselyoverlying the strip, a bracket disposed crosswise of the strip andmounted for horizontal sliding movement relative to the fixed structure,a plurality of adhesive receptacles on said bracket arrangedtransversely of the strip, and adapted to abut said doctor blade, andmeans biasing said bracket toward said fixed structure to maintain saidreceptacles firmly against said doctor blade.

2. In apparatus for producing pile fibre surfaced strips of material, adevice for applying spaced parallel bands of adhesive material upon acontinuously moving strip of the material, comprising a fixed supportstructure, a doctor blade carried by said structure transverselyoverlying the strip and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, aplurality of adhesive receptacles arranged in predetermined spacedrelation transversely of the strip and adapted to abut against the outerface of said doctor blade, and spring means normally maintaining saidreceptacles firmly against said doctor blade.

3. In apparatus for producing pile fibre surfaced strips of material, adevice for applying spaced parallel bands of adhesive material upon acontinuously moving strip of the material, comprising a fixed supportstructure, a doctor blade carried by said structure transverselyoverlying the strip and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, aplurality of adhesive receptacles arranged in predetermined spacedrelation transversely of the strip, said receptacles each having adeclining'conc-ave wall portion intermediate side wall portions whichproject beyond the lower terminal edge of the concave wall and areadapted to abut against the outer face of said doctor blade, and springmeans normally maintaining said receptacles firmly against said doctorblade.

4. In apparatus for producing pile fibre surfaced strips of material, adevice for applying continuous spaced parallel bands of adhesivematerial upon a continuously moving strip of the material, comprising 'afixed support structure, a doctor blade carried by said structuretransversely overlying the strip and adjustable vertically with respectthereto, a bracket disposed crosswise of the strip and mounted forhorizontal sliding movement relative to the fixed structure, a pluralityof adhesive receptacles carried by said bracket in predetermined spacedrelation transversely of the strip, said receptacles each having adeclining concave wall portion intermediate side wall portions whichproject beyond the lower terminal edge of the concave wall and areadapted to abut against the outer face of said doctor blade, and springmeans normally biasing said bracket toward said fixed structure tomaintain said receptacle side wall portions firmly against said doctorblade.

' THOMAS O. BREFI'HERTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 553,032 Kenna Jan. 14, 18962,142,258 Schlegel Jan. 3, 1939 2,191,549 Spraragen Feb. 27, 19402,244,791 MacKenzie June 30, 1941 2,330,662 Balfe Sept. 28, 19432,338,499 Faris et al. Jan. 4, 1944 2,345,376 Bodle et a1 Mar. 28, 19442,349,256 Evans May 23, 1944 2,356,489 Amstutz Aug. 22, 1944 2,389,657Faris et al. Nov. 27, 1945 2,398,400 Balfe Apr. 16, 1946 2,414,728 Fariset al Jan. 21, 1947 2,421,073 Kratz May 27, 1947 2,464,849 Coward Mar.22, 1949

